How to Write a Comic Book | Part 1: Brainstorming

#writingcomics #makingcomics #howtowriteacomicbook
When I think about how I write comics, I do it in 3 steps: BRAINSTORMING, OUTLINING & SCRIPTING.
I'll do a video on all of these, but first, let's talk BRAINSTORMING, the step where there are NO BAD IDEAS!
Here, I just need to get all of the random story thoughts OUT of my head and ON to the page. I let the story percolate in my mind for a bit, while also writing individual ideas down as they come to me on any piece of paper I can find, and in whatever order I think of them.
My brainstorming notes are messy, grammatically incorrect, out of order, and sometimes filled with ideas that don't make it into the final story. But that's okay! No one is going to see this part except you! You'll have time to organize these notes when you're ready to move on to the outlining phase, which is where you'll start putting the story elements together and building the structure.
Once I have enough ideas jotted down that I can get a good sense of the overall story, I'll decide if it's worth moving on to the outline or not. Sometimes, I scrap the idea all together and circle it from above like a vulture, picking through the scraps for a small morsel of a good idea to use somewhere down the line. Other instances, the idea just needs more time to cook.
Catch us on Discord where we continue the conversation and talk about everything that goes into the process of Writing Comics: / discord
Website: www.jameseroche.com/
Instagram: / jameseroche
Facebook: / imaginationhousecomics
Personal Webstore: www.jameseroche.com/comic-shop
Wretches thru Scout Comics: www.scoutcomics.com/collectio...

[@The_Responsible_Scoundrel]

Been brainstorming comics for like 8 years and it's still difficult for me to really write the story. Thanks for this series!

[@writing_comics]

I hear ya. It can be tough to get that first story donr, but start getting the ideas down onto paper and hopefully it puts you on the path to completing it. Let us know when you start!

[@The_Responsible_Scoundrel]

@@writing_comics Yeah I've heard that just by writing, the ideas float into your head so hopefully that works. I'll be sure to let you know! Thanks!

[@writing_comics]

Hey! I just launched a Writing Comics Discord that I thought you might be interested in. discord.gg/4PHjPrkPqh

[@The_Responsible_Scoundrel]

@@writing_comics I'll definitely join! Thanks!

[@iHeardWord]

Same. I hope to create a retcon-less series

[@othellobarker1291]

In all my years of thinking of writing I've never bothered to take the time to search up and learn more about comic writing. Thank you for making the video and thankfully for me I have learned to seek such knowledge while I'm still in my teens so I can use more if my free time to focus.

[@user-pw6dn2bf4u]

Great can we talk privately?

[@JinHwanL]

I was surprised when you used the term "cannablize" because it's a term I thought I came up with on my own. It's a lot more fitting then "recycling" due to how destructive in nature it is in comparison.

[@nerissacrawford8017]

My brainstoming looks like your brainstorming. I thought my process is really off, but seeing your notes reassured me that I am on the right path. So thank you for that and the additional advice. It is appreciated.

[@writing_comics]

That's awesome. I'm glad it helped. Just do whatever works for you though. Everyone has their own process and no one is right or wrong.

[@No-I-dont-want-that]

I feel the same way.

[@nickdorenkamp959]

I just wrote a two page comic for my illustration college art class and the first two obstacles I faced was how was I gonna introduce the characters; and the dialogue. What I wound up doing on the first page was drawing the shots that didn't have dialogue. Once I did that I started to figure out what the characters were gonna say which then led me to building the scene around the dialogue. I didn't write any outlines down before hand. The only thing I wrote down was the dialogue which then got me brainstorming about what the shots were gonna look like.

[@theplaguedoctor5773]

Thought about skipping this since I’ve been brainstorming for years but decided to start at part one and work my way through all your videos.

[@karikkao]

another thing i can say about shelving stories: you can always come back to certain ideas whenever you feel like its time to rework them. if you see an old concept you loved and you now have the knowledge to make it clear and knowledgeable as a story… revamp it!

[@auriannahoward5943]

I've been mostly winging It when I came to making stories and graphic novels. But after watching your video, I am going to motivate myself to planning out my graphic novels rather than writing them and not having a plan.

[@writing_comics]

Awesome! I usually start by brainstorming and writing all of the random ideas down, and eventually start to form them together into a story that I want to tell and that I think makes sense.

[@auriannahoward5943]

@@writing_comics I'm nearly finished with a graphic novel called Alex Stormer. Its about an alien cat hero who is brought to life by his father to save his planet from a villain who is hungry for its power.

[@valentinasalguero-ig1wt]

I remenber when i made comics when i was 9

[@tgm099]

So ready to start writing a comic. Thx for the help!

[@kenjira4492]

I'm brainstorming rn on a good story for a (fan fiction?) Batman comic. I'm a penciler and inker (artist) by birth and having trouble roping and grounding my flurry of ideas. I think I just about have it though thanks for this video I will capture all ideas going forward as I mostly think of them at my boring 9-5..

[@zakmudie3856]

Hey James, I'm a new writer and I'm working on an idea I love. I've brainstormed, I've outlined and now I want to write a script, can you do a video or tutorial on script writing or formats? It would be super helpful. Love your content so far.

[@writing_comics]

Hey, Zak! I definitely can, and will, do a video on how I go from the outlining to scripting phase, and also one on how I format my scripts. I'm releasing the first few solo Writing Comics videos in the same order that I write a comic -- brainstorming first, followed by outlining and then scripting. So trust that they're on the way.

[@zakmudie3856]

@@writing_comics That's awesome, I can't wait!

[@writing_comics]

Hey! I just launched a Writing Comics Discord that I thought you might be interested in. discord.gg/4PHjPrkPqh

[@zakmudie3856]

@@writing_comics Great I’ll check it out!

[@JackDamjien77]

Just get started.

[@GCRAAY]

Nice to hear I’m doing pretty much what he just said.

[@TokenDrew]

So glad I found this channel. Because I've been brainstorming and world building for so long, like 20 years for this story.

[@writing_comics]

Nice! Sounds like it's time to start unleashing all of that story onto the world!

[@TokenDrew]

@@writing_comics most Def! My art style evolved finally to my own and I have the wacom tablet and the programs. It's go time. I'm binge watching your whole series too! Glad you made it

[@writing_comics]

@@TokenDrew much appreciated! the Discord might be a thing you want to check out too. Links should be in video descriptions.

[@carlymara88]

✍️ (taking notes)

[@writing_comics]

Always!

[@adamkhan922]

great advice

[@sharonbpeter]

Thank you so much for the help!!

[@writing_comics]

You're very welcome!

[@myquartermyplay]

Thanks for sharing.

[@writing_comics]

You're very welcome. Hope it helped. Join the Writing Comics Discord through the link in the video description if you want.

[@dwyer1964]

This is fantastic. Thanks man :)

[@writing_comics]

Appreciate ya!

[@XXX_XI_MM]

I’ve got a story that I know the opening and roughly the ending. It’s 3 part, however I’ve got a feeling it’s better to focus on sports first as my profession does feature on tv and feel if I get noticed and become well known then I feel I could have a better chance of getting published than being a nobody where some may not want to risk it.

[@writing_comics]

Do whatever you feel is right for you. Most writers start off as nobodies, but it's definitely an easier decision for certain publishers if you're "famous".

[@LanzaNation]

Thanks dude for this!

[@writing_comics]

yw!

[@nighthawkwarriorcomics]

Thanks for the information much appreciated

[@writing_comics]

You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@nighthawkwarriorcomics]

@@writing_comics thanks it helped me with my own ideas

[@leviread3354]

Been trynna write and draw my first comic for years still stuck on forming a solid plot or if i should just do a different story each comic

[@isaacrayos5667]

thank you

[@writing_comics]

No problem!

[@21Million]

My IDEA: a comic like Saberhagens book of swords OR SkyNet vs. Matrix

[@AshtonAPinto]

Tysm

[@writing_comics]

Np

[@sgtlenny6]

So I have been brain storming for years and finally started writing as you said I made a origin story for my idea and I made a list of hero’s and villains, I polished up the origin story and think it is ok for now and can always visit my list of hero’s and villains, what is next ? I would like to patent my idea so I can keep writing and one day hopefully find a comic organization that would like to bring my comic to life, what do I do next, love the channel

[@writing_comics]

Is the "origin story" your outline for the entire story? Check out the second video in this series where I talk about Outlining. That may help. You can also join our Discord where myself and other creators ask questions, give advice, etc... discord.gg/4PHjPrkPqh

[@sgtlenny6]

@@writing_comics thank you

[@FredericGuimont]

Can you touch on character development?

[@optiksnipegaming9720]

I use an app but I really need to get it on paper.

[@Justiced05191985]

Random but does anyone else like writing generes they don't typically like watching? For example i hate most horror (blame my older sis for making me watch hundreds as a kid lol rip to best big sis i could ask for) but i love writing and brainstorming horror stories that scare me lmao.

[@writing_comics]

Not me! I love it all. 😂

[@jorgebeyaz2981]

I want to write a comic but I'm hispanic I commit lot of grammar errors in writing in english

[@MasterYetiOffical]

Even since I got my ferret MasterYeti I’ve been wanting to make a comic book outta him

[@J.Illustrate1156]

kool

[@writing_comics]

Thanks

[@colinblake24]

It seems like writing a story is like writing a song?

[@nicebhargave4434]

How many pages of story are written for a comic book?

[@writing_comics]

Traditionally, single issues are anywhere from 22-24 pages on average, but can go up to 26-28 pages sometimes. It can depend on the publisher's guidelines too. Honestly, I've never aimed for a page number, especially if I'm self publishing or running a crowdfunding campaign for the book. Tell the story in however many pages it needs. Then edit it and trim out the fat.

[@jeffersonmiranda7452]

Here’s what I do … (bong noises)

[@writing_comics]

🤣🤣🤣

[@terrymayo]

Won't woot!

[@writing_comics]

:-)

[@EverythingElseftKoa]

dude looks like seth rogan... also ty for the advise really appreciate it

[@writing_comics]

🤣 Glad you enjoyed it.

[@angelodcollazo]

This is great! I couldn't agree more with everything you said. You know it would be cool, if you took some of the comics that you've done and did a panel by panel breakdown like how Bryan Hill did for his Batman: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3WpoZWjedCsmK8

[@writing_comics]

That's awesome. I have something very similar in the works for future videos; probably right after a video on how I go about scripting, which will come after a video on outlining!